Alarm-valve.



A. G. ROWLEY.

ALARM VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.9, 1911.

Patented Dec. 23, 1913.

unrrnn STATES PATENT oniuen.

ARTHUR o. ROWLIEY, or PHILAijELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE INTER- NATIONAL SPRINKLER COMPANY, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPO- RATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

ALARM-VALVE.

ToaZZ whom it may 0011061 11:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR C. RowLnY, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Alarm-Valves, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to valves of the form commonly employed in connection with or as a part of sprinkler systems fol-extinguishing fires, which valves are primarily intended to permit of a fiow of water to some form of alarm apparatus of an electrical or mechanical nature, whenever the valve itself opens in the manner caused by the operation of one of the sprinklers in the system.

One object of my invention is to provide a novel form of alarm valve which shall be of a relatively simple and substantial construction while at the same time being free from certain of the objections now present in valves of a similar type.

It is further desired to provide an alarm valve whose movable member shall support an auxiliary valve of novel form, in position to cooperate with a suitable seat in order to properly control the flow of water from the main valve casing to the passage leading to an alarm device; it being especially desired that the construction shall be such as will not be likely to get out of order even though it be permitted to remain in a given position for long periods of time.

These objects and other advantageous ends I secure as hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1, is a vertical section of an alarm valve embodying my invention; Fig. 2, is a horizontal section on the line aa, Fig. 1, and Fig. 3, is a vertical section on a somewhat enlarged scale further illustrating my invention.

In the above drawings, 1 represents the valve casing which is made in the form of a hollow pipe-like structure having a main inlet 2, a main outlet 3, and an opening 4; normally closed by a suitable plate and through which access may be had to the interior of the valve casing. In addition there are in one side of the valve casing openings 5 and 6 of which the first may if desired be used for the connection of what isknown as supervisory apparatus forming no part Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 9, 1911.

Patented Dec. 23,1913. Serial No. 643,166.

of the present invention and the latter being connected to a drain is used to draw off all of the water from that part of the system with which it communicates. Said opening is so placed that all foreign matter is washed. out of the valve casing whenever the system is thus drained.

Within the casing is provided a main valve seat 7 removably mounted in a suitably formed upwardly projecting portion of the casing structure and in the present instance having its engaging face in a plane inclined to the horizontal. The main valve 8 is mounted within the casing in such position as to cooperate with the valve seat 7 to separate the interior of the easing into two chambers, the valve being hinged to the casing by a suitable pivot pin or pins 9.

In the portion of the casing structure 10 into which the main valve seat 7 is fitted, is a passage 11 terminating in a valve seat designed to cooperate with an auxiliary valve 13. This latter is mounted in a threaded bushing 14 screwed into an overhanging portion of the main valve 8 and said bushing is maintained permanently in any adjusted position by means of a jam nut 15. The lower end of the bushing is provided with an inwardly extending flange which retains the auxiliary valve within it so that when the main valve 8 engages its seat 7, the upwardly extending edge of the auxiliary valve seat 12 projects into the bushing form and has a central stem extending into 14, and engages the valve 13 which is slidable in said bushing. This latter is of disk form and has a central stem extending into the hollow interior of a plug 16 screwed into the bushing 14: and so formed that when moved as far as possible into said bushing, its lower end is spaced away from the auxiliary valve 13 by an amount sufiicient to permit of this having a slight movement (in the case illustrated, about 3/1000 of an inch) relative to the main valve 8.

As will be understood by those skilled in the art, under normal conditions of use the upper portion of the valve casing with the part of the system connected to the outlet opening 1 is filled with water under a predetermined pressure, which maintains the valve 8 on its seat; the valve 8 under normal conditions being in close engagement with its seat 7 as is also the auxiliary valve 13 with its seat 12. It is to be noted that said auxiliary valve is pressed to its seat by the column of water acting through the openings 20 of the bushing. As a consequence any liquid in the casing 1 cannot secure entrance to the passage 11 or to the apparatus connected thereto. If, however, owing to a flow of water through the casing 1 such as would be caused by the operation of one or more sprinklers, or from any other cause, the main valve 8 opens, and it with the auxiliary valve is swung back against the side of the casing out of the path of the main water current so that a free passage is provided for the flow of said current. Under normal conditions, however, when the valves are seated, there are frequent slight variations in the pressure of the water contained in the casing so that the valve 8 may be raised a short distance from its seat. In such case it is not desired that the apparatus connected to the passage 11 shall be operated and it is then that the auxiliary valve 13 fulfils its functions, for it is still maintained in contact with its seat 12 by the water pressure even though said valve 8 does move away from its seat 7 for a limit ed and predetermined distance. When, however, the valve 8 is actually raised from its seat by an action which would result from the operation of one or more sprinklers, the valve 13 is moved away from its seat since it is bodily carried away from the same by the aforesaid movement of the main valve, and water is free to flow into the passage 11 so as to actuate the apparatus connected thereto.

With the above described arrangement of apparatus an auxiliary valve bodily movable relatively to the main valve, is provided for controlling the flow of liquid to alarm apparatus, which valve is of a relatively simple, compact, and inexpensive construction and of such a nature that its deterioration with time is a practical impossibility. Moreover, it may be adjusted with the utmost nicety by altering the position of the bushing 14: in the main valve 8 so that within certain limits any desired movement of the main valve 8 may be permitted before the auxiliary valve is raised from its seat.

I claim:

1. The combination, in an alarm valve, of a casing having an auxiliary passage terminating in a valve seat and also provided with a main valve seat; a main valve in the casing mounted to cooperate with said main valve seat; a bushing carried by said main valve; an auxiliary valve mounted in said bushing in position to cooperate with the seat of the auxiliary passage; with a plug in the bushing for limiting the movement of the auxiliary valve.

2. The combination, in an alarm valve, of a casing having a passage; an auxiliary valve seat therefor; a main valve seat; a main valve mounted to cooperate with said main valve seat; an inwardly flanged bushing adjustably carried by the main valve; a disk mounted in said bushing so as to cooperate with the auxiliary valve seat; and a plug in the bushing to permit of a limited movement of the auxiliary valve relatively to the main valve.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARTHUR C. ROWLEY.

Witnesses MURRAY C. BOYER, Jos. H. KLEIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

